Electronic signal responsive circuit having presettable count means



Feb. 16, 1954 J.

ELECTRONIC SIGNAL RESPONSIVE CIRCUIT C. MANLEY HAVING PRESETTARLE COUNT MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 22, 1950 Ml E N @E AL 0N W A wwl QQ E N RQK W c kw MSE I w o l--- L J wh WQSXO u I l I l l l l l Il |I|||||||||.I|.I||T |.|.|l\IT| I|||I|I|||P||.I| f wwwl Sm wwml .5.5% RSS Illlll mv u Mw Nk ww Nmk .mv RRQ Feb. 16, 1954 J. C. MAN

ELECTRONIC SIGNAL RESPON LEY SIVE CIRCUIT HAVING PRESETTABLE COUNT MEANS Filed Dec. 22, 1950 .CUNTER l3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

.10H/v a'. MAA/EY BY/@m ATTORNEY.

Feb. 16, 1954 C, MANLEY 2,669,390

ELECTRONIC SIGNAL RESPONSIVE CIRCUIT HAVING PRESETTABLE COUNT MEANS IN VEN TOR. .l0/IN d MANLEY Bf/m/M A T TOR/VFY.

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 ELECTRONIC SIGNAL RESPONSIVE CIRCUIT HAVING PRESETTABLE COUNT MEANS John C. Manley, Barrington, R. I.,` assignor, by mesne assignments, to Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Boston, Mass., a corporation of the United States Application December 22, 1950, Serial No. 202,336

Claims. (Cl. 235-132) This invention is directed to a novel circuit system of discharge tubes to produce an output signal or operate a work circuit in response to preselected or predetermined signals and particularly to such system which may be associated with a counter or data indexing means to respond to selected digit or data signals.

The system, which may be called a predetermining system, is particularly adapted for operation in conjunction with a plural order counter or plural order data indexing means to respond to successively produced digit or data signals representing a selected multi-place number or the like. The system may be used, for example, in conjunction'with the impulse counter disclosed in an article Neon Diode Ring Counter in the January 1950 issue of Electronics or with an impulse counter composed of denominational orders of the kind disclosed in my application, Serial No. 191,306 iiled October 20, 1950, now Patent No. 2,646,534.

An object of the invention is to provide a multistage predetermining circuit system composed of electric discharge tubes coupled in a novel manner to operate in sequence in response to electrical signals representing a preselected plural order number in a counter or representing plural order indicia in data indexing means.

More speciiically, an object of the invention isy to provide a predetermining circuit system composed of circuit stages coupled in series to voltage supply lines, so as to be sequentially conditioned for response todigit signals or the like.

Further, object of the invention is to provide a predetermining system having successive stages, each of which includes a gaseous discharge tube which upon conduction causes priming vpotential to be applied across a gaseous discharge tube in the next stage to enable the latter tube to respond to and be made conductive by a digit signal or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a predetermining system the stages of which are composed of vgaseous discharge diodes,l such as simple glow tubes, coupled for sequential` response to `voltage signals on separate signal input lines for like to be controlled by.. signals representative f of the digits of a preselected number. The iirst stage has a gaseous discharge diode normally conditioned for response to a selected digit signal from the associated counter order.` Upon iiring of the diode in the iirst stage its output circuit Z applies conditioning potential to a diode in the next stage. The diode in this next stage is normally unable to respond to a digit signal but after being conditioned by the preceding stage it is ready to iire in response to a signal from the associated counter order. In turn, the iiring of the diode in this next stage conditions a diode in a following stage to respond to a digit signal. The successive stages of the predetermining system are associated with the highest to lowest orders of the counter, respectively, so that by reason of the connections between the stages they will respond sequentially to signals representative of selected digits developed by the counter in descending order progression. Inasmuch as a higher order digit is developed in the counter as a result of a carry from e lower order, special provision must be made to operate a predetermining stage for which 0 has been selected. Accordingly, it'is an object of the invention to provide meansfor replacing the counter orders Vin the production of selected 0 signals for the Dredetermining stages. A

In one embodiment of the invention, each of the predetermining stages has a gaseous discharge diode which upon conduction applies voltage to the anode circuit of the diode in theA next stage to condition it to respond to a digit signal applied to said anode circuit. In another embodiment, the tubes are conditioned as in the first embodiment but are responsive to digit signals applied to their cathode circuits.

It is to Vbe understood that the predetermining system may be used with other data indexing means than a counter. For instance, it may operate under control of signals on communication lines or signals produced by a keyboard.

Other objects of the invention will be made clear in the accompanying detailed description and claims, and be apparent from `the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a circuit diagram of elements of the counter chosen, for purposes of the disclosure," to control the predetermining system;

Fig. 2 shows pertinent wave forms produced in the counter;

Fig. 3 shows the first embodiment of the predeterminingsystern in conjunction with a diagrammatic showing of three orders of the counter; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view relating to the second embodiment of the invention. A

Before describing the predetermining system in detail, a brief description will be given of the counter. Referring to Fig. l, each` order,` as shown for the units order, has ten glow discharge 3 diodes T-O to T9. The anodes of T-D to T9 are connected to a common positive bus which is returned to the positive terminal of a Voltage source through a resistor Rb. The cathodes of T-U to T9 are, respectively, connected by rectilers X-U to X9 .and resistors R.-'ll to R9 to ground. Coupling capacitors C-ll to C9 interconnect the diode circuits. Associated with each order is a triggering circuit. The units order triggering circuit includes a glow discharge diodeT'u having its anode connected to the positive bus and its cathode connected to ground by a rectier set Xu and a capacitor CTu. Negative priming potential is impressed on Tu viia a ,resistor Ru. As

illustrated, the triggering circuit will be operated by negative input pulses applied through a coupling capacitor Cu.

The quiescent Voltage on the positive llousis insufficient to re any of the diodes T- to T9 but is sufficient to maintain a red .diode in ionized state. In the yreset condition .ofthe counter order, .its l) manifestingtube `T-l is conducting and .capacitor "Cl is charged through the forward resistance .of the rectiers X-D and XI andthe .resistor Rl.. Upon application of .an Vinput impulse to the `triggering tube, the tube lires and causes an. abrupt fall in the positive bus potential, .suicientto extinguish the conducting diode .7T-.11. During the triggering interval, no one 'of `.thediodes T- .to `.I9..is conducting. VCapacitor .CI discharges relatively slowly through R-il, Rl, and .the inverse .resistance of rectifier XI. The Ahigh ,inverse .resistance ofthe rectier causes a very .large lproportion .of -the voltage across Cl to nappear between the cathode of TI and ground. :Thus .the ,cathode of 'Tl 'becomes significantly .negative with respect to ground. The voltage of the l.units .bus recovers as capacitor CTu Y.chargesthrough units bus .resistorfRa Ltu'be Tu, .rectiers Xuand resistor Ru. Upon .recovery of ...the bus voltage, a greater voltageappears across Tl than across any of the otherdigit manifest- .i-ngtubes .and Tl strikes, the .bus voltage is again depressed, the triggering tube is extinguished andthe bus voltagereturns to its vquiescent value.

V.The counter order .has thus been .advanced one digit, .from its 0 .position to its 1 position. `Succeeding triggering pulses cause the repetitionof Athe .counter .step until T9 eventually becomes Y. conducting.

Fig. 2 shows inthe .upper'line the Wave orm of voltageon thepositive vbus `of .the units order .duringsuceessive `triggering intervals ti 4Vto t9.

The lsecond Vline of Fig.. 2 shows the .wave .form .off-the cathode voltageiof T9 during .thencountingsteps. lDuring the triggeringinterval vt9,.tube .is extinguished .and .capacitor .C9 .produces a signicant .drop in the .cathode potential of T9. .Atfthe -endof the V,interval T9, tube T9 strikes and the cathode potential rises abruptly vwhile. vcapacitorsC-fi! and a1-capacitor Ct charge ytothe potential shown in the lsecond line of Fig. 2 during the time between the triggering intervalstS 'the ,units and the vtens orders, strikes almost iinu,'Inedately because itis primed close to its strikging potential. :When vTt strikes, V.the voltage-ofi".

'a carry from the units order.

`control of the vunits counter order.

the tens bus drops rapidly as shown in the bottom line of Fig. and the conducting tube in the tens order is extinguished. The voltage of the tens bus recovers as CI't charges through the bus resistor Rb, the tube Tt and through Xt and Rt. The tube following the Ajjust extinguished tube in the tens order fires, fonreasons now clear; the tens bus drops in potential and the tube Tt is extinguished. The tens order has thus kbeen advanced .one count step as a result of Similarly, when the tens order steps from 9 to 0, a carry is veffected to lthe hundreds order (see Figs. V3 andx .4).

'It is to be noted that when one digit manifesting tube is extinguished, a negative impulse is iprofducedzatlthe cathode of the next tube, following which the next tube strikes and a positive impulse appears at its cathode terminal, as indicated for tube T9 in Fig. 2., second line. llit/her the negative Aor positive impulses -ratthe cathodes of Vthe counting tubes in 'each :order may 'be Yused -to control the predetermining'sysf tem. Eig. '3 shows `the formof `system controlled i by positive impulse signals vfrom the countingr iof the switches-are connected to the'input cir- 'cuits vof Vthe rpredeteriniuing .circuit stages. In the form of predetermining system using V,posi- `tive input signals, the wires .wl .to w9 .are connected to spots 1 to 9 (see Fie'B). 'In theform .of predetermining system using negative input signals, wires lwil to w8 are connected to .spots l to 9, respectively. In each form, the 0 spots are 'connected to the voutput lineof anoscillator W in order to take care of 'zeros in the gpredeterminednumben .Referring now to Fig. "3, Vthe .stages I-I, Tand U rare Vconnected to "form a Apredetermining 'system in which vstage H must operate rst,'underjcon ltrol ofthe hundreds counter order,.s`tage ,Tmust operate next, under control lof the tens counter order, and `stage U must operate last, .under When .all 'the stages have operated, an output signal lis produced'at a chosen point of the last stage'U. This output signal is an indication that .the predeterminingsystem` has detected apreselected numberand may be used to perform any desired work.

Stages H, T and U,.respectively, include gaseous discharge diodes 55,'51and 58. l'Ihe cathodes A'of 56, 51 and 58 are, respectively, wired through resistors 539, bl and E2 to the arms :of

'peten'tiorneters t3, 64 and 65. 'The anode of 5.3 is connected byrectifiers 86 4to the 'arrn of 'a potentiometer 5.1. Potentiometer 551 'is in series v'with a resistor E8, potentiometers 63, 64 and 65, ja Vresistor and va switch .19, betweenthe positive terminal of a k.voltage vsource and ground.

The anode of 56 is also connected through a A coupling capacitor 19 and rectifier 8U, in series, connect the anode of 51 to the arm of switch Dt.

The coupling capacitors 18, 19 and 8l are sufficiently small that negative wave forms are differfentiatecl and, hence, positive impulses from the counter (and from the oscillator) are always "available to trigger the predetermining tubes. The constants and elements are so chosen and .the potentiometers so adjusted that the potenl Atial across tube 55 is maintained less than its .striking voltage and is of such value that the .tube will iire upon receiving a positive input lbiased to respond to a positive input signal when increased anode potential is applied thereto through tubes 55 and 51 in conducting state.

As an example, assume the predetermining system is to detect the number 234 in the counter Switches Dh, Dt and Du. are adjusted as shown in` Fig. 3. With switch 10 closed, the voltage jsupply for the predetermining system impresses 4a priming voltage, fairly close to the striking voltage, across tube 5B and suitably biases the tubes 51 and 58. As the counter steps to number 200, the tube T2 in the hundreds order ignites and a positive impulse appears at its cathode terminal, as previously explained. This positive Vimpulse is applied via wire rc2 of the hundreds order, the switch Dh in 2 position, the coupling vcapacitor 18 and the rectifier 11 to the anode of tube 55 of stage H. The potential across tube 55 will now exceed the iii-ing potential and cause the tube to ignite. Current will flow essentially from the -iside of the voltage supply, through the potentiometer 51, the rectiiiers BB, in the forward direction, the tube 56, resistor B0, the potentiometers 63, 55 and 55, resistor 59, and closed switch lll, to ground. rThe voltage then appearing across resistor 55 is impressed on the -anode of tube 51 and primes 51 fairly close to its striking voltage.

When the counter advances to the number 230, tube 5l is triggered by a positive pulse from the cathode of tube T3 in the tens counter, the

pulse being applied through switch Dt, coupling -capacitor l5 and rectifier B0 to the anode of 51, 4The tube 51 strikes and current will iiow essentially from the positive side of the voltage sup- `ply through the potentiometer 51, the rectiers 56, the tube 55, the rectifiers 1|, the tube 51, the resistor 5|, potentiometers 54 and 65, resis tor 59, and closed switch 15, to ground. The voltage now appearing across resistor 5| is im- -pressed on the anode of tube 5S and is suilicient to condition the tube for striking in response to an input signal.

Upon the counter advancing four more steps, from 230 to 234, tube 58 is red by a positive pulse from the tube T4 in the units order oi the counter, the positive pulse being applied by switch Du, coupling capacitor 5| and recti- :er S2 to the anode of 58. Current flows essentially from the positive side of the volt The anode of 55 ,is similarly connected by a coupling capacitor "8| and a rectier B2 to the arm of switch Du.

agesupply through tubes 56 and 51 .as,.pre-75 positive pulse at its cathode terminal.

` an oscillator.

6 Y viously described and from the cathode of tube 51 through rectiers 12, tube 58, resistor 62, potentiometer 65, resistor 69, and switch 10, to ground. The output may be taken from the cathode of tube 58. Since the output voltage appears across resistor '52 and potentiometer 65,

'this potentiometer may be adjusted to conform to the demands of the load.

Special provision must be made in order to obtain a predetermining output signal after any number which contains the digit 0. It may appear at rst glance that if the predetermining circuit is to respond to the number 230, for example, the input signal to stage U may be derived from the 0 manifesting tube T-U in the units order. However, when the counter receives the 230th impulse to be counted, the units counter order rst switches from 9 to 0 and following this, the tens order switches from 2 to 3 as a. result of a carry from the units order. Thus, the tube 5S in stage U is not primed until after the units order tube T-5 has fired and produced the Unless provision is made to offset this condition, the predetermining system will not complete its operation until the units order has again completed counting cycle of ten steps and has produced another carry to the tens order; namely, after 240 impulses have been applied to the counter. This same diniculty arises with any number containing the digit 0. For correct operation, the signals which operate the predetermining tubes must be delivered iirst from the hundreds order, then from the tens order, and nally from the units order. rIn the case of 0 digits in theA se looted, predetermined number, the correct sequenoe is provided articially by obtaining the 0 digit signals for the predetermining system from The simple relaxation oscillator W shown. in Fig. 3 may beused. The frequency of oscillation is considerably higher than the maximum countingspeed so that the delay in the production of the predetermining output sig- 'nal is minimized when this signal is required after numbers such as 100, 200, 110, 230, and so on. it is to be noted that rectiers 11, 8D and 82 prevent reaction of the predetermining circuit upon the counter circuit. When, for instance,

predetermining tube 56 rires, the rise in its cathode potential is blocked by rectier 80 from having any ill effect on the tens counter order.

With regard to rectiers 55, 1l and 12, they restrict the incoming positive signals from the counter orders to the associated predetermining 'tubes and also prevent appearance of negative impulses at the cathodes of predetermining tubes when the counting tubes preceding the selected tubes are extinguished. Such negative impulses '1i-'iight be eiective to prematurely ignite predetcrmining tubes. For example, considering the example shown in Fig. 3 Where the tens order counting tube T3 has been selected, each time the preceding tube is extinguished a :negative priming pulse is produced, in. the manner previously explained, at the cathode of tube T3. In the absence of the rectiiiers 1 i, a similar negative impulse may be produced at the cathode of predetermining tube 56 and tend to cause the tube 55 to strike. Thus, each time the tens counter order stepped from digit position 2 to digit positioni, the hundreds order predetermining tube 56 would tend to strike, if the rectifiers 1I were not present. Similariy, rectiers 12 prevent appearance of undesirable negative` impulses at the cathode ofpredetermining ltubel 51 ,and the next. .tot to `wi! from each counter .order are connected .to the spots l to 9 of the related dial switch Dh, .Dt or Du. The spots are connected, as before, .to an oscillator W for providing digit 0 signals to ,the .predetermining circuit, for the reasons vexeachftime thefun-its counter Vsteps to the selected units orde-r digit ,.position.

' Fighe shows an emboclmentof Ythe predeter- ,mi-ning system utilizing negative signals from the counter. The coupling circuits between the counter orders and .the predetermining stages are similar to the coupling circuits between counting tubes and between onecounter order For this embodiment, the leads .plained in connection with the embodiment shown Fig. 3. The connections of the predetermining tubes 50a, 51a and 53a to the voltage .supply and to each other are similar to the connections in the preceding embodiment except that .rectiers such as 56, 1l, and 'i2 of .the Vpre- `ceding embodiment are not included and are .not necessary and', further, rectifiers XH, XT and are inserted, for reasons which will become clear, between the cathodes of the predetermin- .ing tubes and the cathode resistors 60a, 61a, and 62o.

In .further explanation, .consider the example indicated in Fig. .4 where the predetermined or preselected number is ,231. The junction between the rectiier X-0 of the .0 manifesting stage in the units order (see Fig. l) and the rc.-

.sistor Rail is connected by wire wt to the 1 spot of .dial .switch Du. Thearm of switch Du is con- ..nected by coupling capacitor 8 lo vto the junction .of the cathode .lead of tube 58a and the rectifier IU. It is seen that the coupling between the .0

.nlaniiesting stage ofthe units order and the predetermining stage U is similar to the coupling .between the 0 maniiestingstage of the units or- .der .and .the next 1 manifesting stage of theun- J. ...its order. .Similar coupling is provided between fa connected, with the assumed setting of switch .D h, between said tube Il and the predctermining tube 56a charged substantially to a. potential "such as indicated between t9 and t0 in the second lline .of Fig. 2. The 200th triggering impulse -causes the tube Ti in the hundreds order to be extinguished, whereupon the cathodes of the next tube T2 andv ofV the predetermining tube 456a assume a negative potential with respect to ground due tothe discharge of coupling capaciftors C2 and 18a through the .inverse resistances of the-rectifier X2 (hundreds counter order) and the. rectiiier XH (predetermining stage H), respectively. The hundreds order counter tube T2 'will strike upon recovery of the hundreds order bus potential, in the manner previously described. The predetermining tube 55a strikes lalmost immediately because it is primed close to the striking potential. With tube ta conducting, vthe voltage across .its cathode resistor 60a :is'applied to the anode of predetermining tube 51u l'and lprimes it close to its striking potential.

It is clear now that when the 230th input impulse is applied to the counter, the .capacitor ."ISafdischarges a negative impulse at the cathode 8 of tube blo-causing it .to ignite. With .51a conducting, tube Bilo is primed,l and upon applica'- tion 'o the `231st Vtriggering impulse to the counter, capacitor 8l@ will discharge a negative impulse on the cathode of tube 58a and causet to strike.

Any suitable constants and tubes may be used which will produce satisfactory operation of the circuit system according to the principles outlined. .lor example, satisfactory operation "has been obtained with the voltage at the positive terminal of the circuit at approximately 1.80 volts with resistors G0, El, 62 each having aV value of 300,000 ohms and resistors 63. B5, 61 eachhaying a value of 20,000 ohms. Capacitors 18,13, 8l each have a value .of .0005 microfarad; resistor .E4 a value .oi 5,600 ohms, resistor 6B a value of 18,000 ohms and resistor te a value of 15,000 ohms. The rectii'iers may be germanium crystal diodes. With the-constants specied, the .tubes may be of the NE96 type which re at approximately 135 volts and operate at approximately '70 volts. The Zero signal .oscillator .may also have an NESS diode with a cathode resistor ol' 3 megohms and a capacitor having .a value lof .0005 microfarad.

It should be borne in mind that i-n describing the invention, only the preferred embodiments were explained and shown in detail, .and that many variations in the details of theV circuitmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended to'be limited only as .indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. .A circuit .network controllable .by pa plurality ci signal sources :for producing signals .in various possible sequences, .comprising a voltage supply, a succession .otgaseous discharge tubes. separate signal input circuits for so respectively connecting the signal sources and the tubes, each said source to a diierent tube, as to ,be capable of non-simultaneously transmitting signals from the sources to the related tubes, biasing .connections between the voltage supply `and the tubes .for initially biasing only the iirst tube to dre upon a'pplication'thereto of a signal by its input cir cuit the remaining tubes being unaffected by Asignals on their input circuits, means serially connecting the anode-cathode circuits of `the tubes inciuding an output connection from -each preceding tube to the next tube eiective upon firing of the preceding tube to condition theinext .tube to re upon application of a signal thereto by its input circuit, whereby the tubes are conditioned in predeterminedsequence and reinsaid sequence in responseV to signals produced in a .corresponding sequence on their respective input circuits by said signal sources.

2. .A circuit network controllable by a plurality of signal sources, comprising a voltage supply, a succession of gaseous discharge tubes, separate signal input circuits torso respectively connecting the sources to the tubes as to be capable of ,non-simultaneously transmitting signals from the sources to the related tubes, biasing connections between the Voltage supply and the tubes for initially biasing only the first tube .to fire upon application of a signal thereto by its input circuit, the remaining tubes being unaffected by signals von their input circuits, an output circuit for each tube including an impedance across Awhich increased. voltage is produced upon ring ofthe tube, 4and a connection. from the output circuit of yeach preceding tube tothe anode-cathode cir- .Cuit of the next tube eiiective upon ring of the preceding tube to apply the increased Voltage across the related impedance to the anode-cath-v ode circuit of the next tube to condition it to re in response to a signal on its input circuit, wherebylthe tubes are compelled to re in a given sequence in response to signals on their respective input circuits.

3. A circuit network controllable by a plurality of signals from diiierent sources, comprising a voltage supply, a series of gaseous discharge diodes, separate signal input circuits for so respect'ively connecting the diodes to the different signal sources as to be capable of non-simultaneously transmitting signals from the respective sources to the related tubes, biasing connections between the voltageA supply and the diodes to initially bias only the rst diode to fire upon application of a signal thereto by its input circuit, the' remaining diodes being unaiected by signals on their input circuits, impedance means in series with each diode and across which a voltage increase is produced upon ring of the diode, and al connection from a terminal of the impedance means, associated with each preceding diode, to

the next diode to apply the voltage increase produced across the impedance means, upon firing of the preceding diodeto the next diode to condition the latter to iire upon application of a signal thereto by its input circuit, whereby the diodes are compelled to re in prescribed sequence in lresponse to signals on their input circuits.

lfl. A circuit network to produce an output sig 'nal `in response to a plurality of input signals from diierent sources, comprising a group of gaseous discharge diodes. a separate positive signal input circuit connected from a diiierent source to the anode of each diode, a source of potential, and means including connections to thersource of potential and series connections from cathode of-one diode to anode of the next diode for rendering the diodes effective for sequential ignition in response to positive signals on their respective input circuits so as to produce the output signal upon ignition of the last diode of the group.

5. A circuit network to produce an output signal in response to a plurality of negative input signals from diEerent sources, comprising a group of gaseous discharge diodes, a separate negative signal input circuit connected from a diierent source to the cathode of each diode, a source of potential, and means including connections to the source of potential and series connections from the cathode of one diode to the anode of the next diode for rendering the diodes effective for sequential ignition in response to negative signals applied by their respective input circuits, so as to produce the output signal upon ignition of the last diode of the group.

6. A circuit network to produce an output signal in response to a plurality of input signals from different sources, comprising a series of electron tubes, each including at least an anode and a cathode, a separate signal input circuit connected from a diiierent source to each tube, a source of potential, and means including connections to the source of potential and series connections from cathode of each tube to anode of the next tube for rendering the tubes sequentially conductive in response to signals on their respective input circuits so as to produce the output signal upon the last tube in the series be coming conductive.

7. A circuit network as inclaim 6, wherein said input circuits include rectiers poled to prevent reaction of the circuit network upon the signal sources.

8. A circuit network as in claim 6,. said series connections between the tubes including rectiers poled to isolate each tube from all the signal input circuitsrexcept its own signal input circuit.

9. A circuit network controllable by a plurality of signals, comprising a voltage supply, a series of signal receiving tube circuits, each including a gaseous discharge diode and a resistor in series, impedance connections between the voltage supply, and the tube circuits including potentiometers in series between opposite sides of the voltage supply, each potentiometer connected to the terminus of the resistor in a different one of the 'tube circuits, for biasing the first diode to re upon receiving a signal and biasing the succeeding diodes to disregard signals, and means serially connecting the diodes including a connection from the opposite terminus of the resistor of a preceding tube circuit to the next tube circuit to apply priming potential to the diode in the next tube circuit for conditioning it to fire upon receiving a signal, whereby the diodes are iired in sequence in response to signals received thereby.

1i). A predetermining circuit network to detect a desired number in a plural order number register, said predetermining circuit network including a series oi gaseous discharge tubes each including anode and cathode electrodes, a separate input signal circuit connected to each tube and selectively connectable to an order of the register to apply digit manifesting voltage signal to the tube upon said order advancing to a selected digit position, a source of potential, bias connections between the source of potential and the tubes, and series connections between the anodecathode path of each tube and the anode-cathode path of the next tube, said bias and series connections priming the tubes for sequential operation in response to signals applied by their respective input signal circuits.

l1. A predetermining circuit network as in claim 10, said bias connections including potentiorneters in series between the opposite terminals of the source of potential and individual connections between the potentiometers and the tubes.

12. A predetermining circuit system to detect a desired number in a plural order impulse counter producing distinctive digit manifesting voltage signals in each order, said system comprising a direct voltage supply, a series of discharge tube circuits of which each includes a rectier, a resistor and a gas discharge tube between the rectier and resistor, means to apply potentials to the tube circuits to render the tubes therein responsive to applied digit signals, said means including potentiometers in series between opposite sides of the voltage supply and respectively tapped by the resistors in the different tube circuits, said means f'urther including a connection from one side of the voltage supply through the rectifier in the rst tube circuit to the tube therein and a connection from the anode-cathode path of each tube to the anode-cathode path of the next tube through the connected rectifier, and means including capacitors for selectively coupling the tube circuits to the counter orders to apply digit signals representing a desired number to the tube circuits.

Madsen 13.1An predeterrnningsystern operable in response tov signals from different sources, comprising a voltage supply, a series of gaseous discharge diodes, connections between the .voltage supply and the diodes for initially priming the rst diode to respond to an input signal and the remaining diodes to disregard input signals', a rseparate'ii'ipiut signal circuit for each diode including a ectier connectedv between the cathode of the diode and one s'id'eiof the voltage supplyand further including a couplingcapacitor connected to the rectifier and selectively connectible to. one of the signal sources tov be charged through the forward resistance of there'ctier prior to the production of asignal by said source` and to be' discharged through the inverse i'esistance'l ofv the rectifier upon the. production of'a signal by said source, whereupon the input. circuit develops a" nega-A tive signalait the cathode of the diode, such negative signalin the'rst'diodebeing effective tore it, and connections' from the first diode to the next and so on for prirning; each succeeding diode to nre' in responseVv to the negative' signal applied thereto by its input circuit.;

14.' A p'redetern'iirii'ng'` systeznto detect a desired number in denominationally or'deredcountercir'- cuits, comprising"` a voltage supply',V a series of gaseous discharge diodes,l connections between the voltage supplyA and the'l diodes for initially pruning` the iirst diode to' respondv to an input signal and the remainingdiodesto disregard in-Y put signals, a separate input signal circuit for each diode, each input circuit including a capacitor and` afrectifier connected tothe cathode of. a diode-andselectively connectible to an ordered countercircuitto complete acharging circuit for the capacitor through the forward resistance of the rectiier upon theV counter circuit stepping to the digit position precedingv ai. desired digit position and.v to: cause the.y capacitor to discharge l?.` tnougli tri inverse resistance off nre rechner upon the` counter circuit ster'ip'ing` to the dc'eslr'e'd dig-it position, said. capacitor discharge in the signal inpzutfcir'cuit `ofthe rst diode` increasing. the potential acrossthisdiodeA to the flringvalu'ei', and connections between the' first diode andthe next diode and so on' toY apply' primingpotenti'al to., each succeedingdiode upon ring'" ofi theip'e`` cedingdiode". y K

15. A circuit network to producev an output signal'in response to a plurality offiiiput's'ignals from different sources on. different. signalilines.. comprising a source of potential,` series of gaseous dischargerdiodes each to receive'an' sighalirom a differentone of' said' IinesIh'eansf fr initially conditioning onlyv therst diod. to strike in response to an applied input signa1'a'-nd` coupling'circuits betweeneach diode andthenext foiconnectingthe anodev cathode path of" each succeeding' diode throughthe( precedingVv diode'l o1"` diodes tothe source of 'potentialso as 'to' be' conr ditioned to strike in response to an applied signal', whereby the' diodes willv operate' sequentially iii response to separate signals. 

